So, it may have rained a couple of times. But it is the third week of November and the sun is still shining and the weather is still hot. Normally, shops get into Christmas mode in the first week of December or so, but this year, it seems to have come much earlier.

As we already said, the weather is a factor, people are still walking around in their shorts and tee shirts. Some people are still enjoying a daily dip in the sea. But already, the street decorations are going up, and the crystal trees are already lining Republic Street. But thankfully, the Christmas Carols and songs have not yet begun to assault our ears on a repeat loop. There is something surreal, for us Europeans to begin putting up our Christmas decorations when it still kind of feels like summer.

But while the festive committees and government workers can be expected to want a head start in putting up decorations, it feels even stranger to see that a great many businesses have already started decking out storefronts with fairy lights, climbing Santas and all the other kitch (though we all enjoy it) paraphernalia that comes with Christmas.

One of the reasons could be that shop sales might not be up to the levels that owners expect at this time of the year, and as a result, businesses are trying to go for an early Christmas push to get the shopper “in the mood” to spend more money.

One of the issues which certainly affects local business is the growing prevalence of people who shop for gifts online. As the regulations for consumer protection increase – in terms of returns or swaps for different sizes – more and more people are turning to buy things off the internet. Whereas before people used to buy only electronics, in terms of what you see is what you get, people are now buying clothes, shoes and all manner of other apparel that they normally used to shop for in person.

Shops in Malta have become a lot more competitive, but there still seems to be the missing ‘High Street’ element that you get in places like London or Rome or Barcelona. At the end of the day, the consumer wants more value for money and perhaps shoppers are hanging on in the hope of getting a better bargain.

Perhaps people are simply too busy and just leaving it to the last minute. Business owners always expect a last minute surge – and this is mainly due to men losing track of time and rushing out at the last minute to buy presents for their wives. People do have disposable income, and perhaps the business community needs to be a bit more innovative in their approach. Fairy lights and Santa’s Grottos just don’t quite cut it anymore. Or could it be that we all have a bit of Scrooge in us? Bah, humbug.